Future CMO, Monash marketing graduate, and recipient of the Tony Palmer Monash Marketing Award for 2012-2013, Jessica Smith, will receive personal mentoring for 12 months by global marketer and Monash University alumnus Tony Palmer, president of global brands and innovation, at Kimberly-Clark.

Palmer will mentor Smith as part of the Monash Marketing Award for Excellence she won earlier this year. Smith says she was delighted to be mentored by someone with such extensive global marketing experience.

“My goal is to combine my marketing and Japanese knowledge to become a chief marketing officer of a global FMCG company, so I’m very excited to be mentored by Tony Palmer,” Smith says.

“I’m looking forward to learning about his pathway to becoming president of global brands at Kimberly Clark Corporation, and his work at Coca-Cola, the Kellogg Company and Mars Incorporated.”

Smith, who also majored in Japanese, was presented with the award for obtaining the highest marks in specific units and courses. The award applications are reviewed by a panel comprising a member of the department’s industry advisory board, a marketing industry professional and a member of the Department of Marketing’s executive committee.

Brigette McGuire, principal and managing director of McGuire Marketing, chair of the Department of Marketing’s industry advisory board and member of the award selection panel, says Smith is a worthy winner.

“Jessica demonstrated key attributes of a successful marketer and the ability to develop career objectives based on sound insights. Her strategy to achieve her objectives was communicated effectively, and her curiosity and determined approach to facing potential career challenges demonstrated maturity beyond her years,” she says.